Examine Calmes' word choice: While she portrays Republican plans as involving a
"shrinking of Medicare and Medicaid," Obama "envisions a more
comprehensive plan" that includes finding "savings in Medicare and
Medicaid," as if Obama was making a painless offer. Which phrase will be
more palatable to undecided voters nervous over the impact of Medicare
cuts?

President Obama will call this week for
Republicans to join him in writing a broad plan to raise revenues and
reduce the growth of popular entitlement programs, as the battle over
the nation's financial troubles moves past Friday's short-term budget
deal and into a wider and more consequential debate over the nation's
long-term fiscal health.

In a speech to be delivered at a
university here on Wednesday, Mr. Obama will in effect come off the
sidelines on the debate over reducing the nation's debt, which is
reaching dangerous heights as the population ages.

....

The Republican plan includes a shrinking of Medicare and Medicaid and
trillions of dollars in tax cuts, while sparing defense spending. Mr.
Obama, by contrast, envisions a more comprehensive plan that would
include tax increases for the richest taxpayers, cuts to military
spending, savings in Medicare and Medicaid, and unspecified changes to Social Security.

The Times has previously portrayed
cuts in Medicare spending increases in less threatening
terms when proposed by Obama, versus dire warnings of "cuts" from
similar Republican proposals.- Clay Waters is director of Times Watch. You can follow him on Twitter.